I think colleges will be open but that there may still be some changes such as required masks, limitations on large gatherings, etc. Our kid’s college in increasing dorm density but not to 100% and keeping space open for quarantine. With that and the kids who took gap years, I’m wondering if fewer kids were admitted this year.

What will your kid do if she doesn't go to college? Gap years need a clear plan, otherwise you may have a bored and lonely young adult on your hands. And haven't we all had enough of that?

Honestly, I do not want to keep my DS cooped up like this any longer. His intended college has announced they will be open for normal operation in the fall. He'll be vaxxed and ready to go.

Colleges are stating they will be fully open in the fall. Many are vaccinating current students. Yours will be vaccinated before leaving. Why defer? I have two at college now and the difference between fall semester and spring semester this year is amazing. Much less Covid. More open on campus and they are loving it.

Why defer now? These kids have been couped up and had a ridiculous end to their high school careers. Let them move on and enjoy being freshmen in a pretty normal environment.

No. DS's college has already said they will be fully in person and I assume DS will be vax'd by then too.

College will never be like it was in 2018-2019, but with all students and faculty vaccinated, operations should be as normal as it will get for the foreseeable future this fall.

I assume most places will fully open with masks. He should get a vaccine.

The fall is not going to be like pre-Covid, that said I think that most schools at this point are anticipating in-person instruction and students living on campus at normal density. I think it’s actually going to be quite an interesting year which will probably begin with a decent number of restrictions but I think over the time will really start to feel very normal again. My DD deferred this year because her school was clear that the entire year all classes would be online and freshman would only be on campus for fall semester so it didn’t seem worth it. I think next year will be very different though and everybody will be really excited to start living normally again so it could be kind of a fun year.

Anonymous wrote:DD is a young senior and will still be 17 when she heads off. I suggested a gap year, but she wants to leave home!!! 😁

Plus, she got a substantial scholarship that requires her to enroll this year. So no deferral in our house.

Same!

I don't know if UMD is going to be totally back to normal in the fall.

Anonymous wrote:The fall isn’t questionable. The schools desperately need the students back on campus, for revenue, if nothing else. Most will require students to be vaccinated, and everyone will have had the chance to be, by then, in any case. Many states have already opened the vaccine to anyone 16+. The schools that have been in person have been fine. There may be a few vestiges of precautions, but it’s going to be a long time before those go away. It’s not like 2022 is going to be magically back to pre-covid normal.

This.

DD is a young senior and will still be 17 when she heads off. I suggested a gap year, but she wants to leave home!!! 😁

Plus, she got a substantial scholarship that requires her to enroll this year. So no deferral in our house.

Yes, just got a note from University of Chicago that they will be back in person in the fall. Back to normal.

The fall isn’t questionable. The schools desperately need the students back on campus, for revenue, if nothing else. Most will require students to be vaccinated, and everyone will have had the chance to be, by then, in any case. Many states have already opened the vaccine to anyone 16+. The schools that have been in person have been fine. There may be a few vestiges of precautions, but it’s going to be a long time before those go away. It’s not like 2022 is going to be magically back to pre-covid normal.

DC is considering deferring for a year in Order for college life to get back to normal. I’m starting to agree. Maybe it is tuition sticker shock, but I want to know he said getting the full experience before we pay all of this money. I think the fall is questionable and don’t want to regret sending him if the experience isn’t ideal.

Anyone else considering the same?